You know Nick Kurtz’s name because two months into his rookie year, he put up one of the greatest single games the sport has ever seen. On July 26, he became the first rookie ever to put up a four-homer game , in the midst of going 6-for-6 against the Astros, during which he also tied the single-game record for total bases with 19. It was the capper on a truly great month, a statement made without hyperbole; it was indeed one of the 10 best Julys we’ve ever seen , thanks to a 1.433 OPS bettered only by the Babes, Barrys, Chippers, and Joes of history.

But then: Kurtz went 15 consecutive games without a homer. The A’s settled comfortably into what looks like their third last-place finish in four years. As other playoff races intensified and the homers stopped flying, you probably sto

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